Women's Health:Conditions & Treatments

Frequently Asked Questions

Emory's team of board-certified reproductive endocrinologists is committed to the physical and emotional needs of our patients. We understand that infertility can create a tremendous amount of stress, which is only intensified by uncertainty. That's why we believe that providing answers and sharing knowledge is an integral part of our commitment to our patients and to the community.

Generally, most couples should try on their own for 12 months before seeking professional advice. Women over the age of 35 may consult their physicians after 6 months. These guidelines may be too restrictive for some couples. If a woman has very irregular cycles or there is a known or suspected risk factor for infertility, immediate consultation is welcomed.

Yes. Women should record their cycles. Ovulation generally occurs 14 days before the subsequent cycle starts. For example, in a 26-day cycle, ovulation usually occurs about day 12 (day one is the first day of flow). In a 34-day cycle, ovulation occurs about day 20. Over the course of several months a woman will be able to predict the timing of ovulation and assure that intercourse occurs during the most fertile days of her cycle. Try to time intercourse for every other day during this time. Once you have established a predictable cycle, you may then use over-the-counter ovulation predictor kits such as Clear Blue Easy or First Response to focus on a 24-36 hour window.

The initial consultation involves obtaining a complete medical history of the couple. Information about recent menstrual cycles is invaluable. Prior medical records should also be brought into your first visit. The cause of infertility may be attributed to a problem with the woman, her partner, or both. The male partner will be asked to schedule a semen analysis to assess the number, shape, and motility of his sperm. The woman will be asked to use one of a variety of methods to confirm ovulation, such as basal body temperature charts, ovulation predictor kits, or a blood test to check progesterone. The health of the uterus and fallopian tubes can be determined by a radiological study called a hysterosalpingogram or ultrasound. Once these factors are evaluated, couples will consult again with the fertility specialist to plan their course of therapy.

Eighty to ninety percent of women who have used fertility drugs give birth to one child. The majority of the multiples are twins. The Emory Reproductive Center prides itself on achieving the highest rate of pregnancy success while minimizing the risk of multiple births. In many cases, in vitro fertilization may provide the lowest risk of multiples especially if you elect to perform a single embryo transfer.

First of all, many men who previously would have required donor sperm can now conceive through IVF. So, before assuming that sperm donation is necessary, a thorough discussion of options is invaluable. When a couple opts for the use of donor sperm, they are given information about several reputable sperm banks. They will contact the bank themselves and choose their donor together. Your blood type and cytomegalovirus (CMV) status should be known before selecting a donor. Once a donor is chosen, the sperm bank readily ships the frozen specimens to our Andrology Laboratory so that it is available prior to the day of the intrauterine insemination or egg retrieval.

The answer is different for each situation. It is best answered in an IVF consultation, which can be scheduled by calling 404-778-3401. However, we have been making consistent, satisfying gains with IVF and our recent data are available for your review in the success rates section of this website.

Sometimes a woman's response to medication is less than expected or the fertilization rate is not favorable. Some cycles seem perfect, but conception does not occur. If a couple decides to persevere with treatment, the chance of success improves cumulatively. One of the remarkable things about IVF is that it can give couples with unexplained infertility insight into a previously unrecognized problem.

Women are given IV sedation during the retrieval in order to allow safe, complete access to the ovary. Ultrasound-guided retrievals provide a direct view of the ovary that allows the maximum number of eggs to be retrieved in approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Most women take only Tylenol for pain after their retrieval and go home within an hour or two. You may go back to work the next day.

The most critical event prior to retrieval is the injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone used to trigger ovulation. This injection is given 35 hours prior to retrieval in order to optimize egg maturity. You should also make sure not to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before, and arrange to have someone drive you home after the procedure.

During ovarian stimulation, intercourse may not be comfortable because of ovarian enlargement. Furthermore, unprotected sex may dramatically increase your risk of a multiple gestation. Your team will let you know when you should abstain from intercourse for a short duration during treatment.

Multiple sonograms and bloods tests will be done over the course of your 10 days of stimulation to assure the best chance of high quality eggs. Nonetheless, no one can guarantee that every follicle seen on ultrasound will contain a viable egg.

The number of embryos transferred depends upon your specific circumstances. We will review your options with you, taking into account your age, fertility history, medical and gynecologic history, and the number of healthy embryos available. Surplus healthy embryos can be frozen for future transfer with a high degree of success. Overall, the Emory Reproductive Center is proud of its ability to generate very high pregnancy rates while maintaining an average of just 2.4 embryos per transfer. This optimizes our patients' outcome and limits the risk of multiple pregnancies.

Some of the embryos that can't be transferred show signs that they have stopped growing normally prior to the day of transfer. They are allowed to disintegrate in the laboratory. Extra healthy embryos can be frozen and saved in the laboratory for transfer at a later date. These embryos have the same chance of success as those that are transferred initially.

In vitro fertilization can help most couples conceive, but circumstances will vary. Some will need to use the donated eggs of another woman or have embryos transferred to the uterus of a compassionate gestational carrier to achieve a pregnancy. This technology can be used in a variety of circumstances to help couples realize their personal dreams.

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